.:Goodbye:. [[open]]

From here on out, cameras would be watching her at all times. She would have hardly any privacy whatsoever. She would be in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people. And then she would have to enter a confined stretch of wilderness that she might never come out of. Why?

Because Topaz was officially a contender in the Hunger Games.

But, unlike one would expect, second thoughts were the last thing on the sixteen year old tribute's mind. She was from District One, a district that took pride in having their children whisked of to this competition. They were trained for it, just like Topaz had been. This was a huge honor.

Only some people, particularly her family, didn't seem to think so.

"Topaz!"There was a strangled shout as the door to the isolated room flung open and someone flung herself onto Topaz. Her sister, Sapphire, sobbed into her shoulder. Topaz sighed and patted the fifteen year old's back. Trust Sapphire to magnify the situation to be graver than it actually was.

"Oh, come on, Sapphire. Get a grip. I can win."

Sapphire pulled away, wiping a tear from her eye. Truthfully, it didn't take much to set her off lately. "Topaz, no. Have you seen that Dante? The other one who was picked with you?"

Topaz had to admit that her sister was right. "Oh well. I'll steer clear of him. I can take care of myself." Her voice was firm as she spoke, warning Sapphire not to break down again. She had always taken it upon herself to watch out for her delicate sister, even though they were not that far apart in age. Sapphire was no fighter; she was average height, but looked painfully thin even though she had everything she could ever want to eat.

There was silence for a moment. Topaz didn't know what to say to reassure her sister, especially since what she said was true. There was a chance she would not come back from the Arena. She could die there. Unless she could really wow the Capitolians and pull some sponsor gifts from them, she would.

Finally Sapphire sat down on the velvet red couch. She reached into a small leather bag she carried with her and pulled out a piece of jewelry. She presented it to Topaz, who gasped.

Sapphire did not wear very much jewelry like her sister did. The only thing she ever wore was a necklace, with a medium sized sapphire stone hanging from the tiny silver chain. And that was what she was holding out to Topaz right now.

"Saph! I can't take this!" she tried to push it away, but her sister fastened it around the red haired girl's neck carefully.

"Yes you can, Tope. Take it to the arena. It'll help..." Her voice trailed off as someone came into the room and announced that Sapphire's time was up. Topaz stood up indignantly and was about to request more time with her sister, but Sapphire was one to abide by the rules. They met each other's eyes, blue into deep golden, before she left the room.

And Topaz was left to sit until she got another visitor.